Thursday, December 15, 2005

Blue-eyed Soul

I always thought that the best way for me as a single individual to dispel racial stereotypes was to simply drop my trousers, nothing shatters myths faster than a chubby black blogger that's hung like a toddler. I guess there are some ounces of truth in many stereotypes, I acknowledge that, but whenever a stereotype can be thrown back in someone's face to the point that they rethink their whole ideology, it can be rather entertaining. For example, there was a guy on my High School Track team named David France, our resident pole vaulter and token white guy on our field events team. No one knew how fast he was, until I challenged him to a race one day in practice and he absolutely blew my motherfucking doors off, smirking as he passed, embarrassing the piss out of me in front of some female admirers who were there to watch me practice. The other black athletes gave me grief because I got beat by a "white boy", but they quickly turned their "disbelief" of David's speed into "acknowledgment", when he beat them even worse than he beat me.

So David not only turned into our top sprinter, but also our anchor leg on our 400 meter relay team. When we would go to predominately black schools I used to make bets with people there, betting 20 bucks a pop that Dave would come in first.(The motherfucker ran like a 10.3 100 meter time, trust me that's good.) They acted like they were making easy money, thinking that there was no way in hell a white guy could beat their top black sprinters, only to give up the loot later and exhaustively say, "That's one fast white boy!" For anyone who knows anything about a 400 meter relay race, your second fastest runner(me) would go first, third fastest runner would go second, your slowest sprinter would go third, and your fastest runner would go last(Dave). But because I wanted to see first hand the proverbial air go out of the home crowd who doubted our Caucasian brethren's speed, I wanted to go third to hand off to Dave as I taunted the crowd and cheered Dave on as he finished first place, to the point that people would ask me later if Dave was "half black".

I thought about Dave the other day as I was using my Ipod to play songs at a get together a friend of mine was having. You guys know that my musical interests span genre's like a motherfucker, so when an artist's like Teena Marie or Michael McDonald came on they were shocked that they were indeed white musicians. Before I knew it I felt like I'm stuck in a bad sitcom, scrolling my Ipod and playing them soulful white singers that crush racial stereotypes. Since I am the king of lists, so I've been told, here are a few examples of said artists.

Michael McDonald: This gentleman was part of a group called "The Doobie Brothers", a group that my brother was fond of when I was a kid, so I was exposed to their musical stylings early on. "What a Fool Believes", "Taking It to the Streets.", and "Minute by Minute" are probably what this gentleman is best known for, but these particular songs just shows that he can sing with the best of them. After leaving "The Doobie Brothers" he reached solo success with songs like "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)", his duet with James Ingram, "Yah Mo B There."(If you watch the "40 year old virgin", that particular song plays a part on said movie.), and also his duet with Patti LaBelle, "On My Own,". The funniest recollection I have of this particular artist was an experience I had with an uncle who loved "The Doobie Brothers" intensely. The problem was that this particular uncle was racist as shit and didn't want to accept the fact that Michael McDonald was a white guy. I remember showing him pictures, album covers, magazine articles, but he didn't want to believe it, the same way people question the moon landing or the Holocaust. But I must say, as a dude who has been with someone that wasn't exactly right for me but for some reason I kept holding on, the song "Minute by Minute" is simply poetic in my opinion. When he says, "I take it all for granted like you're the only one/Living on my own, Somehow that sounds nice/You think I'm your fool-Well, you may just be right", that pretty much sums it up.

Teena Marie: Full disclosure, there are a handful of women that I will always have a crush on and those ladies include Lisa Lisa, Sheila E, Vanity, and Teena Marie.(Not in that particular order) This sultry songstress was so damn soulful that I really didn't fully realize that she was white until my teenage years. I know I have criticized this before ad naseum, but if there was indeed something entitled a "Ghetto Pass", this Los Angeles native would be the first to obtain one. Besides her duet with Rick James called "I'm Just a Sucker for Your Love", she had hits like "I Need Your Lovin',", "Square Biz", "Fix It.", "Lovegirl.", and "Ooh La La La". I had a chance to meet Ms. Marie at a music festival a year back and express my undying love for her, which flattered her probably, but also possibly freaked her out when I mentioned something about "drinking her bathwater" and doing her dishes and cutting her grass, offering myself up as a "personal bitch" for her leisure. I guess I should have stopped at me getting her autograph, huh?

Darryl Hall: A few months ago I said that me liking "Hall and Oates" was a guilty pleasure of mine, but fuck that, I say it loud and proud that I am a fan of said group and anyone who doesn't like it can kiss my natural black ass.(Sorry for my new found aggression when sticking up for this Philadelphia duo, but they were nice when I met them a while back. Don't worry, I will probably go back to hesitantly acknowledging my admiration for them next week.) My mother particularly hates this group, not because they didn't have catchy hooks, or that Darryl Hall's voice wasn't melodious magic, but because I would play one of their tapes everyday before the bus got me for school which drove my mother absolutely batshit. She recognizes that Darryl Hall is as talented as they come, but like a Vietnam vet who wakes up in the middle of the night from having flashbacks of being in a rice field fending off Vietcong, my mother defiantly says "Fuck Them!" as she flashes back on how I played that tape continuously. But with songs like "Sara Smile.", "Kiss on My List", "Private Eyes" , "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do),", and "Did It in a Minute", you too would drive a loved one to hysteria from playing these tunes to death.

Robin Thicke: You would never think that any offspring from the guy who played the dad on "Growing Pains", or someone who once wrote songs for the likes of Christina Aguilera, Brandy, Marc Anthony, Mya and Jordan Knight would have such a soulful voice, but he does. Even though some readers of this blog promptly proved me wrong, but at the time I thought I was the only person that had his first album "A Beautiful World" in my possession. He showed a soulful melodic voice, not a voice that is constantly searching for an identity like Justin Timberlake's, but he came across as a soulful white guy that is comfortable in his own skin. It was hard to see how horribly he was being marketed at the time, watching Andre Harrell "Forrest Gump" his way into NOT making Thicke a household name, noticing how they kept changing his image as if they were a bunch of indecisive schizophrenics. With songs like "Oh Shooter", "The Stupid Things", and "A Beautiful World" off of his first album, that should be enough to recognize his undeniable skill and force you to pick up his new album when it comes out. I know earlier in this paragraph I took a subtle shot at his pops, Alan Thicke, but I just noticed that he is credited for writing the theme songs for "The Facts of Life" and "Diff'rent Strokes", Ok, his pops is alright.(*walking off singing* "You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both..)

57 comments:

I love, love, love Teena Marie. I've seen her perform twice now (once with Rick James in one of his last performances before he passed away) and again this year. She is truly awesome and, in my opinion, the greatest R&B singer of the last 20 years (yea, that's right, better than Whitney).

Thicke is also awesome. I loved his first CD so much! But, alas, my sister stole it from me and I haven't seen it since.

In any case, good list. I guess some people would add Josh Stone, but I'm not all that familiar with her work. She's quite a singer, though.

I see we have the same taste in music. I love all of them. Unfortunately I haven't had the pleasure of seeing any of them in person, but the way I act when I hear songs on the radio you'd think I was at a concert. Don't worry I don't do this while I am supposed to be driving or at a stop light, so you can stop yelling at me. LOL. I agree with Oliviasmommi I'd add Remy Shand I can hear "Burning Bridges" playing in my head now.

oooooh Chele...I love me some Phil Collins...he is my guilty pleasure. I saw him in concert a few years back and he was amazing. I would have added him, but I was not sure if he was a good overall fit for the genre. Rick Astley was another Brit that sang with a lot of soul, but then, when seeing him on MTV, he was just too cheesy!

i like joss stone. i'd do her too. yeah.i like snow too. i was amazed at his soul to whiteness ratio. it was high. yeah.i also like them white boyz from tears for fears. i know it was pop, but was it soulful?yeah.that's what im is talkin about!yeah.

I would say that as for "blue-eyed soul", you would have to add Sting, Phil Collins, and JK from Jamiroquai...I think all of them have some serious R&B influences as well as their rock and funk leanings...

Yeah, I like me some Hall and Oates too. Haha, I could see you pouring a nice big beverage on some disrespectful female and sing "You're a bitch girl, and you're going too far, cause y'know it won't matter anyway" And walk out.

Critic...I am frigging posting from work! Can you believe it! I'll explain later...Anyway...I am going to have to say Lisa Stansfield...remember her...going around the world and still can't find her baby. I was surprised to see a white girl singing on the video...but I still liked her.

I Love Thick! But you knew that already right? Joss Stone has an unbelievable voice, she is pure talent.Bonnie Raitt also. And whatever happened to Lisa Stansfield? I used to really dig her too.Great post babe.

The Backstreet Boys did a song on the "Booty Call" soundtrack that bleeeewwww my mind (called..Stay). I had to keep re-readin the credits to be sure that my eyes were not playin tricks on me and lo and behold, it was for real the Backstreet Boys. I know that boy bands and their members are sometimes overlooked but Justin Timberlake also surprised the snot out of me. True dat, he's suburban than a mutha but in the end, DUDE CAN SANG!!

I see we very similar tastes. The only one I'm not too familiar with is Thicke and I'm going to have to check him out.

Remy Shand and Lisa Stansfield are good choices too. Don't kick me off the blog but what about Rick Astley. I know he only had that one hit that I can remember but he sounded pretty soulful.

Another artist I recently discovered is Pete Belasco. I guess he's been around a few years but I only recently heard some of his songs. I swear his singing is reminiscent of Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield.

Good looking for agreeing with my choices, Amadeo. Also, somebody said it but I would also have to throw George Michael in there...these are not really "soul" singers in the traditional meaning of blue-eyed soul, but they have some serious R&B leanings...

Also, we could add alot of British blues bands from the 60's and 70's to this list, especially since they openly bit alot of the blues stuff that artists over here were doing but doing under the radar. Otis Redding could cover a Rolling Stones song and not many know about it, but the Stones could cover Otis Redding and it would be an international hit...

There are some great picks in the post and in the comments. I find it funny that both Michael McDonald and Hall & Oates are mentioned and both of them have recently released albums where they cover classic soul songs (Michael McDonald with the Motown albums and Hall & Oates with Our Kind Of Soul).

I like Robin Thicke, but I'm hoping that The Neptunes don't try to turn him into "Justin Timberlake 2" on his upcoming album The Evolution Of Robin Thicke.

I think a lot of white artists have at least one "blue-eyed soul" song in them. I've heard quite a few old-school mixes that will include "Brown Sugar" by The Rolling Stones or "Fame" by David Bowie. If Adam Levine and Maroon 5 continue on their current trend, they could end up on this list soon too.

i also love Lisa Stanfield and most people mentioned. Josh has a great voice - but she still a little young yet. Saw her in concert and she was 'aight. I have to say, Christina Aguilera. I know she gets a lot of flack - but the girl can sing.

yeah, joss stone is the shit. i love that girl. if you haven't had the pleasure of listening to her sing, please pick up her latest cd "mind, body and soul." her song "spoiled" will truly blow you away. sometimes i have to wonder how can a 17-year-old blonde english girl can sound like a 40-year-old juke joint singer.

i also love christina aguilera. she's a white girl with a knockout voice.

Oh gosh....I absolutely ADORE Teena Marie!!!!! "Portuguese Love" is my favorite song by her. I also love her duet with Rick James, "Fire and Desire." Damn....that song is HOT!!! Good choice. I probably wouldn't drink her bathwater but I'd do her dishes!! lol

I love with people take me back to a chapter of thier lives and shows me it. I was with you on the tracks. I have a big imagination. I love Teena Marie also. I was shocked when I found out she was white.

I felt so compelled to respond to your post because I am officially (in my mind and existence) Teena Marie's number one fan. We had elections last year in case you missed them.

I have been in awe and amazement for nearly a decade now and I see her every year no matter where I am living at that time. I was also blessed to see her perform with Rick James before he died.

I could go on and on about my favorite songs but I have to go back to Cassanova Brown, Young Love, Shadowboxing and If I were a Bell if I were stranded on an island and could only bring a few numbers with me. WHat would you take?

i would have to go with Celine Dion early 90s work. I don't know what happened after 'My Heart Will Go On' but she had some good stuff (i'm thinking of Colour Of my Love)

also pre-'Fantasy' Mariah Carey. She fell off HARD but had classic r&b hits

Teena Marie all the way. I practically grew up listening to her and Sade

if Christina Aguilera can make the list then I'll have to add Melissa Etheridge as well. I remember when my mom would listen to 'The Only One' and how struck I was at how earnest and full of longing her voice was. one of my all time favourite songs.k

Thanks for stopping by our blog and leaving a comment! How did you find us? I wrote an entry about blue-eyed soul a while back (http://sexandthesushi.blogspot.com/2005/10/in-praise-of-hollin-ass-white-men.html). I totally agree with you!

Smooches,Glamour Diva

P.S. I don’t believe you’re hung like a toddler. Hung like and average man yes but so not like a toddler! LOL

My comment is extremly late but....everyone seems to be mentioning Joss Stone she can sing but I can't really feel her when she sings. I have to feel a person when they sing. I guess you can say Jon B. Is another one he is okay also.

First off I'd like to send a R.I.P. to the man that coined the phrase "Blue Eyed Soul"-- Georgie Woods "The Man With The Goods" WDAS Philly radio personality who just recently left our existance. I would add James Taylor, John Lennon, shit Paul and the rest of the Beatles, all the white dudes in Heatwave, Joss Stone, Eminem and Michael Jackson.

teena is not so blue-eyed WASPY she's portugese... rick astley 'cause i was in the uk when i heard him and thought he was a black guy at first. but my ultimate blue-eyed fave is BOBBY CALDWELL who sings "open your eyes" sampled by common on "the light" and recently re-done by dwele! a big tune dat, my yout!

Teena Marie has a place in R&B History, at the number one spot. No one who has ever heard can forget her sound, her voice or her passion. (anon is right (even though it doesn't apply here), Lina is on point, too. Her song "Come to Mama" is nice.)

Michael McDonald gets on my last nerve, only because he doesn't open his mouth when he sings. But he's good. Real good.

Joss Stone deserves an honorable mention, definitely. JT, when he drops that whole tryna be down thing, can sing. He's got a really good voice. Check him out, if you can, on "Never Again". Xtina Aguilera for sure, has to be on the list. Has to. Jon B? Yeah, okay, him too.

Love love love Michael McDonald. I bought the Ulimate Collection which is his best of and Doobie's best of a few weeks ago. One of the bouncers at the bar wanted it so bad I got him his own copy for Christmas. So Christmas Eve at 3am was spent drinking martinis after the bar closed with Mike on the sound system. Awesome. Great post, HC. Happy New Year to you and yours.

I have always enjoyed the music of Michael McDonald (the blue-eyed soul singer). There's another new up and coming artist that I would like to add to your list, his name is "Taylor Hicks". In fact, he sings one of Michael McDonald's (the Doobie Brothers) song "Takin' It To The Streets" found on Amazon, BarnesandNoble, etc.

He has a new album coming out, and it will drop(debut) December 5th, 2006.